. >> if republicans do not agree to that is the administration prepared to go over the fiscal cliff. >> we face no prospect of agreement that doesn't involve the rates going up on the top two percent. >> brian: he also said he believes that the president needs to get control of the debt limit. that is a nonstarter. there is no way to get congress to give up control of debt limit. >> steve: republicans are saying let's cave and surrender on the tax issue. but coming up in 2013 we have leverage over the debt limit. remember the president of the united states his personal approval ratings went in the toilet. >> brian: as is the congress. >> steve: the congress didn't have as far to because they were close to the floor anyway. republicans say let's have leverage next time and the president said let's take that off of the table and from now on the president doesn't have to negotiate from congress. congress doesn't like that one bit. >> gretchen: usually when you are holding the cards in the negotiation you don't have to budge. that's the position the president and time geithner feel. they